Tomorrow’s People: Making Cultures for Creativity

A new book from UKTV promoting British creativity – launched to coincide with the 40th annual Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival – is available for download now.

Tomorrow’s People: Making Cultures for Creativity features stories and anecdotes from inspirational contributors and organisations about how creativity gives them their edge.

The book features eight essays from creative luminaries, each of whom have a unique take on the ways to foster the power of imagination. The issues covered range from the uneasy relationship between ‘the creatives’ and ‘the business’ and making an inspirational working environment, to the art of collaboration and the hurdles of solo endeavours. .

Contributors include the actress and writer of smash hit Catastrophe, Sharon Horgan; Google’s Matt Brittin; DR’s Head of Drama Piv Bernth (The Killing, The Bridge); award-winning screenwriter and executive producer of hits including Broadchurch, Chris Chibnall; Endemol Shine Group President Tim Hincks; and the feted advertising and music video director, Dougal Wilson.

Throughout each essay the contributors ruminate on topics including how they keep their imaginations alive, why pushing creative boundaries is important, making sure inspiration runs throughout their organisations and how to encourage the next generation of creatives.

Darren Childs, CEO, UKTV, who commissioned the book, says of its launch: “One of the most important remits of a creative organisation’s leader is to make sure the right people are able to produce great ideas, their working days are structured around them having great ideas, and their colleagues and environment are supportive of great ideas. My hope is that Tomorrow’s People will fuel a new debate – about creativity, about diversity, about the nature of success – across the TV industry.”

CONTRIBUTORS AND THEIR ESSAYS:

SHARON HORGAN is one of British comedy’s most successful writer-performers. She stars in hit show Catastrophe and, through her production company Merman, is running Sarah Jessica Parker’s upcoming HBO series, Divorce. She describes the hard work and lucky breaks that helped her become a success in the creative world.

MATT BRITTIN is President, EMEA Business & Operations for Google. Based in London, he previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Trinity Mirror. He discusses the creative workspace at Google, the importance of innovation and the opportunity platforms such as YouTube give new (and existing) talent.

PIV BERNTH is the head of drama at DR, Denmark’s national broadcaster, with a slate that includes The Legacy and The Bridge. She previously produced all three seasons of The Killing. She advocates the benefits of separating the ‘creatives’ from the ‘organisation’, and the importance of giving people time and space to develop their ideas.

CHRIS CHIBNALL is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and executive producer. His credits include Broadchurch, The Great Train Robbery: A Robber’s Tale and A Copper’s Tale, Doctor Who, United and Life on Mars. He passes on what he has learnt as a screenwriter, offering his experience to those aspiring to break into the TV industry.

TIM HINCKS is President of the super-indie Endemol Shine Group. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Endemol UK, overseeing hits including Big Brother, Fortitude and Pointless, and is a former Executive Chair of the Edinburgh International TV Festival. He reflects on the jump from turning an idea into a physical piece of content, and the need to put creativity above the numbers.

JOHN KAMPFNER is Chief Executive of the Creative Industries Federation, the national membership organisation for the public arts, cultural education and creative industries. He is Chair of Turner Contemporary and the Clore Social Leadership Programme. He believes it’s crucial that, as a key part of Britain’s economy, the arts become a core subject in education and that the creative pool must be socially and disciplinarily diverse.

DOUGAL WILSON has directed music videos for Jarvis Cocker, Will Young and Coldplay and TV ads for Ikea, Coca Cola, Stella Artois and most notably, John Lewis. His awards include Gold and Silver Cannes Lions, two MTV video award nominations, and a Grammy nomination. He talks about the science of creativity and the formula he follows to create his ideas.

HENRY MASON is the Managing Director of TrendWatching, who help forward-thinking business professionals in over 180 countries understand consumer behaviour; the needs and wants to uncover compelling and profitable innovation opportunities. He discusses how we can achieve insight in one industry from looking at trends in another and how to continue capturing consumers’ attention.

DARREN CHILDS, CEO of UKTV, has had a prestigious international career in broadcast media spanning two decades. Darren joined UKTV – a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. – in September 2010. Darren previously held senior executive roles at BBC Worldwide Sony Pictures Television, HBO Europe and News Corp’s Star TV.

In commissioning these thought leadership essays, Darren hopes we can fuel a new debate about creativity, diversity and success across the TV industry.